Hypodermic needle



Aug. 31, 1937. c. M. EPSTEIN HYPODERMIC NEEDLE Filed June 4, 1936 Patented Aug. 31, 1937 UNETED 5 did Fit:

10 Claims.

This invention relates to hypodermic syringes, and more particularly to an improved type of hypodermic needle and holder therefor whereby the needle may be removably secured in the body of the syringe and wherein the needle is provided with a suitable stop or guard for limiting the thrust of the needle into the tissues.

A further object is the provision of a needle having an improved stop or guard associated therewith whereby, in case of breakage, that part of the needle remaining in the tissue may be easily removed by the operator. Ordinary hypodermic needles often break when in use and the broken portion remains in the tissue. It is very difficult and sometimes impossible to remove the broken portions. Usually the needle breaks adjacent the hub or point where it is attached to the body of the syringe. However, it has been found that it may break either at the hub or at the point where the needle enters the tissue.

Another object is the provision of a thrust-limiting member constructed and arranged to transfer breaking strains to a point on the needle remote from the skin of the patient.

The present invention provides a novel type of needle which is provided with a suitable stop member which is arranged to press against the skin when the needle has been completely inserted and. which is constructed and arranged to prevent breakage of the needle at the point where it onters the tissue and to assure that if it does break it will break between the stop and the hub and the stop will effectively prevent the broken portion from being sucked into the tissue, which often necessitates a surgical operation and sometimes causes the death of the patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a limiting stop which permits the portion of the needle entering the tissue to be clearly visible adjacent the stop, even after the stop is pressed against the tissue.

A further object is the provision of an efficient securing means arranged to provide a rigid mounting in the syringe and to enable easy attachment and removal of needles.

Another object is the provision of a novel securing means for the stop whereby it may be easily adjusted for any desired depth of thrust and secured in position without injury to the needle.

Further objects will be apparent from the specification and the appended claims.

In the drawing- Figure l is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention and illustrates the improved needle and a portion of the syringe to which it is removably secured;

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional view taken on a line substantially corresponding to line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the stop member before being mounted on the needle; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of the needle and illustrates an adjustable mounting and securing means for the stop member.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the embodiment illustrated comprises the usual syringe barrel which may be of the conventional type and is provided with a downwardly extending threaded portion 2 havin the usual passage therethrough to receive a needle. A removable sleeve 3 is threaded on the portion 2 and provided with an internal tapered portion 4 thereby forming a chuck arranged to rigidly support the needle.

The needle is of the removable or interchangeable type and comprises the usual hollow shank 5. This shank is provided with a cone-shaped hub 6 which is rigidly secured to the shank 5 holding it rigidly in position without undue strain on the needle.

A thrust-limiting stop member I is also mounted on the shank 5 intermediate the apex of the needle and the hub t. This stop is secured in any desired position and determines the depth of thrust of the needle. The stop '1 may be made of stainless material and preferably comprises a sheet metal cup-like member having a plurality of downwardly extending spaced. portions forming points 8. with rounded ends 9 as shown, and three points are preferably provided whereby the needle may be easily visible therebetween. The cup-shaped stop member 1 is also provided with an upwardly extending sleeve portion it which fits snugly over the shank 5 and is rigidly secured thereto by swedging or in any other suitable manner. To remove the needle it is only necessary to unscrew the sleeve and lift the needle out. A new one may then be easily inserted. The hole 3a in the sleeve 3 is somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the stop l so that the stop will easily pass therethrough.

Fig. 4 illustrates a slightly different method of mounting the stop on the shank 5 whereby the stop may be easily adjusted for different depths of needle thrust. In this construction, which may be applied to the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, the stop member la is provided with an upwardly extending sleeve ltd which is of some- These points are preferably provided 1 what larger diameter than the shank 5. A split bushing H surrounds the shank 5 and is inserted in the sleeve of the stop member as shown, the sleeve being provided with a set screw H2 or other suitable clamping means whereby the bushing I! may be clamped snugly on the shank 5. By this means the operator may accurately predetermine the depth of thrust of the needle. The split bushing distributes the pressure over a considerable area and prevents the set screw from injuring the needle;

In Fig. 4 the stop member is illustrated as cupshaped and is not necessarily provided with downwardly extending points such as illustrated in Fig. 2. However, the points may be provided in this construction if desired and are considered preferable.

When the needle is completely inserted, the points 8 of the stop member l press against the tissue and the structure forms a sort of brace or truss whereby any breaking strain is transferred to a point between the stop member and the hub 5. In case of breakage, that portion of the needle remaining in the tissue may be easily removed as the broken portion cannot be drawn into the tissue. The spaces between the points provide visibility when using the needle and also enable the insertion of a tool under the stop if desired, whereby the broken portion may be easily withdrawn.

While the preferred embodiment is herein illustrated and described, it is susceptible of variation, and it is therefore desired that the invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A hypodermic needle comprising a shank arranged to be supported on the end of a syringe, and a thrust-limiting stop on said shank intermediate the point of the needle and its point of support on the end of said syringe, said stop comprising a substantially cup-like member materially larger than said shank and with its open end toward the point of said shank.

2. A hypodermic needle comprising a shank arranged to be supported on the end of a syringe, a thrust-limiting stop on said shank intermediate the point of the needle and its point of support on said syringe, said stop comprising a substantially cup-like member materially larger than said shank and with its open end toward the point of said shank, and a rearwardly extending sleeve on the bottom of said cup-like stop and secured to said shank;

3. A hypodermic needle comprising a shank arranged to be supported on the end of a syringe, a thrust-limiting stop on said shank intermediate the point of the needle and its point of support on said syringe, said stop comprising a substan tially cup-likemember materially larger than said shank and with its open end toward the point of said shank, and a rearwardly extending sleeve on the bottom of said cup-like stop and secured to said shank, the sides of said cup having spaced openings therethrough to provide for visibility of the shank and providing spaced points of contact of the cup with the tissue when the needle is completely inserted.

4a. A hypodermic needle comprising. a shank arranged to be supported on the end of a syringe, a thrust-limiting stop on said shank intermedi. ate the point of the needle and its point of suppoint of the needle and its point of support on said syringe, said stop comprising a body portion secured to said shank, a plurality of forwardly extending members on said body portion, said members being materially spaced from said shank and constructed and arranged to engage the tissue at points around and radially spaced from said shank, and means for securing said stop in a predetermined longitudinal-1y adjusted position on said shank.

6. A hypodermic needle comprising a shank of uniform diameter over-its length and arranged to be supported on the end of a syringe, a thrustlimiting stop on said shank intermediate the point of the needle and its point of support on said syringe, said stop comprising a substantially cup-like member materially larger than said shank and with its open end toward the point of said shank, and means for securing said stop in a predetermined longitudinally adjusted thrustlimiting position on said shank.

7. In an interchangeable needle for hypodermic syringes the combination with a hub adjacent one end for clamping engagement with a syringe, of a thrust-limiting stop between said hub and the point of said needle, said stop comprising a substantially cup-shaped member having its open end toward the point of said needle and having its walls spaced a substantial distance from the shank of the needle.

8. In an interchangeable needle for hypodermic syringes the combination with a hub adjacent one end for clamping engagement with a syringe, of a thrust-limiting stop between said hub and the point of said needle, said stop cornprising a substantially cup-shaped member materially larger than the shank of the needle and having its open end toward the point of said needle, said cup having circumferentially spaced extensions for contact with the tissue remote from the shank of said needle. I

9. A hypodermic needle comprising a shank, a cone-shaped hub on said shank and tapered toward the point of said needle, and a cup-shaped thrust-limiting stop materially larger than said shank, said stop secured to said shank between said hub and the point of said needle with the open end of said cup toward the point.

it. A hypodermic needle comprising the usual small diameter shank of substantially uniform diameter over its length, and a thrust-limiting stop forming an integral part of said needle intermediate its ends, said stop comprising a plurality of radial prongs or the like spaced around said shank and extending toward the point of said needle and spaced from said shank whereby that part of the needle in advance of the stop is braced against breakage when said needle is sufficiently inserted to press said prongs against tissue and to thereby transfer breaking strains to that part of the needle between said stop and the nozzle of a supporting syringe.

CASPER MORLEY EPS'IEIN. 

